Memoirs Of Richard Lovell Edgeworth Esq

Richard Lovell Edgeworth was an Irish educationalist, engineer, and inventor. He began writing his autobiography in 1808, and it was completed by his daughter Maria in 1820. In Volume 1, Edgeworth reflects on his childhood and how it shaped his character. He also discusses his education, which began at the age of seven when he was shown an orrery (a model of the solar system). He went on to study law at university and eloped while still in his teens. He became interested in vehicle design and won several awards, and was introduced to the Lunar Society of Birmingham by Erasmus Darwin. In 1781, Sir Joseph Banks sponsored Edgeworth's election to the Royal Society.

Richard Lovell Edgeworth (1744-1817) was a noted Irish educationalist, engineer and inventor. This two-volume autobiography, begun in 1808, was completed by his novelist daughter Maria, and published in 1820. Edgeworth's interest in education is evidenced by his reflections about how his childhood shaped his character and later life. Volume 1, written by Edgeworth himself and covering the period to 1781, reveals that his interest in science began early; he was shown an orrery (a moving model of the solar system) at the age of seven. As a young man, Edgeworth attended university in Dublin and Oxford, studied law, and eloped while still in his teens. He experimented with vehicle design, winning several awards, and was introduced by Erasmus Darwin to the circle of scientists, innovators and industrialists later known as the Lunar Society of Birmingham. In 1781 Sir Joseph Banks sponsored his election to the Royal Society.